Pirates Vs. Brewers: Bucs Drop Another, Lose 7-0 In Rubber Match

The Pittsburgh Pirates were blown out by the Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber match of their three-game series Sunday, 7-0, dropping their fifth game in their last six and falling two games back of the Braves — who play Sunday night — in the wild card race.

The Bucs were held to just five hits and five walks, and left 12 men on base, but the real loser of the game was Erik Bedard, who was shelled again, allowing six runs in 4.2 innings, including a three-run home run to Carlos Gomez and a two-run shot to Aramis Ramirez that chased him from the game. Bedard's ERA went past five for the season -- another symptom of what's plagued the Pirates this month.

Up next is a pivotal three-game series against the Cardinals at PNC Park, starting Monday night. The Cardinals are now two games ahead of the Pirates, so a series win for the Bucs would go a long way toward their chances of grabbing one of the two wild card spots for the playoffs.

For more on the Pirates, please be sure to check out our blog Bucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.

Pirates Activate Hisanori Takahashi, Place Chad Qualls On DL With Bizarre Injury

The Pittsburgh Pirates announced a roster move Sunday morning that was interesting to say the least, as the team placed struggling relief pitcher Chad Qualls on the 15-day disabled list with "irritation of his left big toe."

The team then activated the newly acquired Hisanori Takahashi to take his spot.

It would be no surprise if this injury was made up so the Pirates wouldn't have to designate Qualls for assignment to bring Takahashi to the 25-man, as Charlie Wilmoth of Bucs Dugout writes:

I think it's probably doctor-speak for "terrible at pitching."

Qualls has not contributed much to the team after being acquired at the trade deadline from the New York Yankees, posting an ERA of 7.04 in 7.2 innings with the Bucs.

Takahashi comes to the Pirates from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, where he has appeared in 42 innings, posting an ERA of 4.93.

For more on the Pirates, please be sure to check out our blog Bucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.

Brewers Vs. Pirates Lineups: Jose Tabata Sits In Series' Finale

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Milwaukee Brewers both released their lineups for Sunday's rubber match (1:35 p.m. ET on Root Sports), and left fielder Jose Tabata is getting the day off and Travis Snider is playing in his place. Also, Rod Barajas will behind the dish, as Michael McKenry played Saturday.

Here's the full Pirates lineup:

1. Travis Snider, LF
2. Neil Walker, 2B
3. Andrew McCutchen, CF
4. Garrett Jones, RF
5. Jeff Clement, 1B
6. Pedro Alvarez, 3B
7. Rod Barajas, C
8. Josh Harrison, SS
9. Erik Bedard,P

As for the Brewers, infielder Jeff Bianchi, who played short stop on Saturday, is out of the lineup and Jean Segura is in.

1. Norichika Aoki, RF
2. Rickie Weeks, 2B
3. Ryan Braun, LF
4. Aramis Ramirez, 3B
5. Corey Hart, 1B
6. Jonathan Lucroy, C
7. Carlos Gomez, CF
8. Jean Segura, SS
9. Mark Rogers, P

For more on the Pirates, please be sure to check out our blog Bucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.

Pirates Vs. Brewers: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The Pittsburgh Pirates are set to host the Milwaukee Brewers in the rubber match of their three-game set in PNC Park on Sunday.

Milwaukee took the opener 6-5 before the Pirates snapped their four-game losing streak and blanked the Brew Crew 4-0 on Saturday.

Erik Bedard will take the hill for Pittsburgh in hopes of garnering his eighth win of the season. Bedard has struggled most of the year, compiling 13 losses and a 4.76 ERA. In his last two starts, the 31-year-old has thrown a combined 9.2 innings and allowed 10 runs (eight earned) on 14 hits and seven walks.

For the Brewers it will be Mark Rogers game to win or lose. Rogers comes in with just five games (all starts0 under his belt in 2012 and a 5.02 ERA. However he did pick up his lone win against the Chicago Cubs on Monday when he threw five frames. In that time he surrendered three runs and five hits while striking out seven.

TV: ROOT SPORTS

Time: 1:35 p.m. ET

For more on the Pirates, please be sure to check out our blog Bucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.

Pirates-Brewers Final Score: Pittsburgh Blanks Brew Crew 4-0

The Pittsburgh Pirates were able to snap their four-game losing streak on Saturday night at PNC Park, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 4-0.

Jeff Karstens was dominant in his fifth win of the season, going seven shutout innings while scattering as many hits and striking out four. More impressively, Karstens didn't allow a single walk.

The offensive showing was a collective effort with Jose Tabata, Travis Snider, Michael McKenry and Karstens. Pittsburgh came through in the clutch with all of its RBI coming with 2-out sans McKenry's. Neil Walker also chipped in with a run scored and Pedro Alvarez collected two hits including a double.

Shaun Marcum was the tough-luck loser for Milwaukee. The 30-year-old gave up all four of the Pirates' runs with none of them being earned.

Aramis Ramirez was one of the few bright spots for the Brewers, amassing three hits on the evening.

The rubber game of this series will be on Sunday with the Bucs sending Erik Bedard to the hill.

For more on the Pirates, please be sure to check out our blog Bucs Dugout and SB Nation Pittsburgh for all the latest news and updates.

Pirates Claim Hisanori Takahashi From Angels

The Pittsburgh Pirates have claimed left-handed reliever Hisanori Takahashi off waivers from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim in an attempt to bolster their bullpen to make a push for the playoffs in the season's final weeks.

Takahashi, 37, has been underwhelming this year, giving up 23 earned runs in 42 innings, good for a 4.93 ERA. He has struck out 41 batters and has allowed fewer than a hit an inning. He's given up six runs in his seven August innings.

Takahashi will likely be used primarily against left-handers, but he's actually been more effective against righties this year, allowing a .224 batting average against as opposed to a .255 clip against southpaws. In his career, his numbers when facing lefties and righties are nearly identical.

The Pirates haven't yet determined who they will cut to make room for Takahashi, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but that's expected to come soon.

For more news and analysis on the Pirates, head to Bucs Dugout. For more on all things from the world of baseball, check out Baseball Nation.

Pirates Vs. Brewers: Saturday Preview, TV Schedule And More

The Pittsburgh Pirates look to snap a four game losing streak on Saturday when they play host to the Milwaukee Brewers in a matchup of NL Central teams.

Shaun Marcum will make his first start for the Brewers since June 14. Marcum has spent the last two months on the disabled list because of elbow soreness, but managed to avoid major surgery. To date, Marcum is 5-3 with a 3.39 ERA, 1.17 WHIP and has held opponents to a .227 average.

Pittsburgh, 37-24 at PNC Park this year, will counter Marcum with Jeff Karstens. Karstens last started on Sunday, when the Pirates defeated the Cardinals in the marathon 19-inning game. Karstens carries a 3.79 ERA and 1.13 WHIP into Saturday's game, though he's only struck out 54 in 76 innings of work.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. ET at PNC Park. Televised coverage can be found on ROOT Sports.

For the latest on the Pirates, head over to Bucs Dugout and join the discussion.

Pittsburgh Pirates Vs. Milwaukee Brewers Final Score: Bucs Drop Home Game To Milwaukee, 6-5

The Pittsburgh Pirates lost to the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday night, 6-5. The contest was the first of a three-game weekend set between the two teams.

The Pirates, trailing 6-3 in the ninth inning, almost fought back to win. The team scored two runs in the bottom of the ninth on a pair of RBI singles by Neil Walker and Michael McKenry. But in the end, they fell one run short of sending the game into extra innings.

Pittsburgh starter Wandy Rodriguez had a solid start, allowing three runs in nearly seven innings of work. But reliever Jared Hughes was tagged for three more runs in only a third of an inning. Chad Qualls and Joel Hanrahan cleaned up the mess with scoreless outings, but it was too little, too late.

Pirates Vs. Brewers: Friday Lineups Announced

After a tough series against the San Diego Padres, the Pittsburgh Pirates will look to grab back a wild card spot when they take on the Milwaukee Brewers. The Pirates will go with their usual eight behind Wandy Rodriguez on Friday.

The lineups are:

Milwaukee Brewers

Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates Promote Jeff Clement, Send Yamaico Navarro To Indianapolis

As the Pirates try to gain back one of the two wild card spots, Jeff Clement will be in the dugout on Friday. He will be making his season debut for the team.

The Pirates have selected INF Jeff Clement from AAA Indy and optioned Yamaico Navarro to Indy.

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 24, 2012

Clement last played for the Pirates in 2010. In Triple-A this season, Clement was hitting .276 with 16 home runs and 57 RBI in 112 games.

Neil Walker has been batting an injury to his finger, and Clement might be asked to fill in at second place if Walker can't go. He has, however, started the last three games.

Navarro appeared in 29 games this season for Pittsburgh. The infielder was hitting .160 with one home run and four RBI.

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Pirates Reinstate Jordy Mercer, Demote Daniel McCutchen

Jordy Mercer will return to the majors after a brief paternity leave, ending Daniel McCutchen's short and not particularly sweet stint with the Pirates.

Mercer, the shortstop who has been the Pirates' starter of late, was placed on leave Monday.

Now a father, he'll return to the Pirates for their series against Milwaukee. McCutchen had only been in the majors since Tuesday, and didn't have time to record an out. Although the reliever appeared in 73 games last season and pitched decently, his first outing of the year for Pittsburgh saw him face two batters -- resulting in a walk, then a homer -- in San Diego's win Tuesday night over the Bucs.

The Pirates had turned to Clint Barmes, who has started most of the season at shortstop, in Mercer's absence. It's not clear whether they'll continue to go with Barmes or play the rookie.

For more on the Pirates, there's Bucs Dugout. And stay tuned to SB Nation Pittsburgh for more updates on the team.

Brewers Vs. Pirates: Pittsburgh Looks To Re-Join Wild Card Hunt

The Pittsburgh Pirates look to re-assert themselves in the NL Wild Card race when they begin their three-game series with the Milwaukee Brewers on Friday. Wandy Rodriguez and Mike Fiers will be the starting pitchers.